KAYAK star Fiona Pennie had a nightmare Olympic campaign as the Loughborough University graduate who is ranked fourth in the world failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the K1 slalom.

Pennie was thought to be in with a good chance of picking up a medal but was left playing catch up after being given a 50 second penalty for missing a gate before another two second penalty was awarded for touching a gate.

She clocked runs of 160.06secs and 99secs on her two runs to leave her down in 17th place in the heats with only the top 15 qualifying for the next round.

”After training for four years, it’s pretty heart-breaking,” she told the BBC.

”It's been a great experience, but I wish I could have experienced more in the semi-final.

“The 50-second penalty was a killer. It was a unanimous decision by all three judges.

“On the first run all our coaches thought it was in, and in our video it looked it, but I guess that's the way sport goes.”

However Loughborough will be represented in the next round after PhD student Heather Corrie of the USA finished 10th in the heat.

Corrie is making her debut at the Olympics at the age of 37 after using her dual nationality to switch allegiance to America.